When you set lofty standards, it can be difficult to surpass them but Ayrshire's Jack McDonald is confident that 2013 can be another year of significant achievement.
The 20-year-old from Barassie got his season up and running at Southerness on Sunday when he was the best of the home contingent in sixth place in the Carrick Neill Scottish Open Amateur Strokeplay Championship. His closing one-under 68 was one of just three sub-par scores posted during the final round on the Solway Firth.
The Stirling University student enjoyed a stellar 2012 campaign but is determined not to rest on his laurels and can now focus fully on his golf over the summer having completed his latest batch of exams.
Last year, he won the British Universities title and was joint third in the Scottish Youths' Open before upping the ante by reaching the semi-finals of the Amateur Championship and playing all four rounds of the European Tour's Scottish Open. The seal was set on a fine season when he was named Scottish Golfer of the Year – the prize goes to the highest player on the world amateur rankings – but the former Scottish Boys' Strokeplay champion is determined to keep moving onwards and upwards. "It will be a hard year to follow up," said McDonald. "It was quite a whirlwind but I don't see any reason why I can't better it. Southerness was as good as I've played all year and my short game, in particular, was really sharp.
"There is a big run of events coming up, with the St Andrews Links Trophy, the Brabazon Trophy and the Amateur Championship, so this is the time to get rolling."
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